Pictures: Francois Hollande becomes France President

Tuesday 15 May 2012 11:11 am

Pictures: Francois Hollande becomes France President

The car transporting France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande, surrounded by the medias, arrive at the Elysee Palace for the handover ceremony between France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande and outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris May 15, 2012.

Francois Hollande is awarded “Grand Maitre” in the Order of the Legion of Honor, from chancellor of France’s National Order of the Legion of Honor, General Jean-Louis Georgelin, as he is officially named as France’s president on May 15, 2012 at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris.

Francois Hollande (R) delivers a speech at the Elysee presidential Palace after being officially invested as France’s president

France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande arrives at the Elysee Palace for the handover ceremony

Outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy waves as he leaves the Elysee Palace

France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande (R) and his companion Valerie Trierweiler (2L) say goodbye to outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) and former First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (C) after the handover ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, May 15, 2012.

Former France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy (L) and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy get on a car as they leave the Elysee presidential Palace after the formal investiture ceremony between France’s president Francois Hollande and his sucessor Nicolas Sarkozy, on May 15, 2012 in Paris.

Outgoing French First Lady Carla Bruni-Tedesci (L) greets new French Premiere Dame Valerie Trierweiler (R) upon her arrival at the Elysee Palace to attend the Presidential inauguration ceremony in which President-elect Francois Hollande (not pictured) is invested French President, in Paris, France, 15 May 2012. Francois Hollande as the 24th President of the French Republic was inaugurated as France’s first Socialist president in 17 years 15 May, taking over power from Nicolas Sarkozy in a ceremony at the Elysee Palace.

Francois Hollande (2nd L) signs after being awarded “Grand Maitre” in the Order of the Legion of Honor, as his companion Valerie Trierweiler (R), France’s Senate Socialist president Jean-Pierre Bel (2ndR) and French national assembly president Bernard Accoyer (3rd R) looking at, as he is officially named as France’s president on May 15, 2012 at the Elysee presidential Palace in Paris.

France’s outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy and outgoing First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (R) leave the Elysee Palace at the end of a handover ceremony in Paris May 15, 2012. France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande (R Rear) and companion Valerie Trierweiler look on from the steps of the Elysee Palace.

New President Francois Hollande delivers his speech after the handover ceremony, Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

French President-elect Francois Hollande (R) is welcomed by outgoing French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) prior to a handover ceremony at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, 15 May 2012. Francois Hollande as the 24th President of the French Republic was inaugurated as France’s first Socialist president in 17 years 15 May, taking over power from Nicolas Sarkozy in a ceremony at the Elysee Palace.

France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy (L) welcomes his successor Francois Hollande upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace for the formal investiture ceremony between France’s president Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, at the Elysee presidential Palace, on May 15, 2012 in Paris.

France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy (L) welcomes his successor Francois Hollande upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace for the formal investiture ceremony between France’s president Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, at the Elysee presidential Palace, on May 15, 2012 in Paris.

France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande is awarded “Grand Maitre” in the Order of the Legion of Honour, from chancellor of France’s National Order of the Legion of Honour, General Jean-Louis Georgelin, as he is officially named President at the handover ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris May 15, 2012.